Today is a key date for those who have not yet received their stimulus check. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is heading up its big stimulus check request day this Tuesday, Nov. 10, looking to encourage people who don’t normally file taxes to use the online “Non-filers” tool to claim money owed.
About a month ago, the agency announced that it would hold “National Economic Impact Payment Registration Day” today as part of additional efforts to locate the millions of Americans who still do not receive the check under the CARES Act passed in March by the U.S. Congress.
An IRS statement on Monday on its website said Tuesday’s initiative will include support from IRS partners as well as nonprofit organizations working directly with low-income and underserved communities.
“These groups will help spread the word about the November 21 deadline, and in some cases, provide special support to people who still need to register for payments on IRS.gov,” the press release notes.
The IRS has not specified whether agency personnel will be stationed at any non-agency center or space for community orientation, nor has it mentioned physical presence of employees in particular states.
“Our partner groups have been vital in our efforts to reach many marginalized communities,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “To date, millions of Americans have successfully used the Non-filers portal and received Economic Impact Payments. Registration is quick and easy, and we encourage everyone to share this information before time runs out on November 21,” Rettig adds.
Multilingual Efforts
According to the IRS, many partner groups have been working with the agency on translation efforts to make stimulus check information and resources accessible in 35 languages. In addition, the office is leading a multilingual initiative on its social networks as part of this latest registration phase.
November 21 is the last opportunity for beneficiaries who have not received their checks to enter their personal information into Non-filers and request payment.
If the potential recipient does not complete the application by that date, they will have to wait until the next tax season to claim the money from the IRS.
Letters to about 9 million
Last September, the IRS began sending letters to some 9 million people across the United States to alert them that they may be creditors of the payment, but that they have to go through the procedure online.
The problem is that many of these people are homeless and have no access to the internet, making the process of locating them difficult.
Millions of Americans whose income in 2019 did not exceed $12,200; and in the case of couples, $24,400, have the right to claim the money through the tool. If the person is not recording income, it also applies for payment.
How long can you request the $500 per dependent from the stimulus check?
If you do not complete the process in the established term, you will have to apply for the credit during the next tax season. As with the $1,200 per stimulus check, beneficiaries who are owed $500 per dependent by the IRS have until November 21 to claim the payment.
Also, in both instances, recipients of the funds must use the online “Non-filers” tool from the IRS website to complete the application.
The office extended the time frames for both payment requests to the IRS in light of the fact that millions of Americans are still not filing even though the distribution of economic stimulus payments began last April following the signing of the CARES Act one month earlier.
Although the agency had initially set September 30 as the deadline for claiming dependent payments, the agency extended the time period by almost two months.
If you do not file within the established time period, you will have to apply for the credit during the next tax season.
Under the federal statute, parents with children under 17 are eligible for the additional $500 credit for each dependent up to a maximum of three.
The key is that your income level (AGI) does not exceed the CARES Act.
Under the provisions for distribution of the money under the CARES Act, passed by Congress, individuals who file tax returns with adjusted gross income up to $75,000, and up to $150,000 in the case of married couples filing jointly, will receive full payment including additional money for dependents.
For taxpayers who report “income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for every $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 threshold,” as specified by the IRS on its website.
The office clarified that in the case of joint custody parents, both the parent receiving the pension and the parent paying it are eligible to receive the extra $500 for each child. However, in some cases, such as child support arrears, the payment could be withheld from the obligor and redirected to the other party.